Type-writing machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. J. ODELL. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No 437,791. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

Horne (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. J. ODELL. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 437,791. Patented 0ot.'7,1890.

(No Model.) 3 bheets-Sheet .3.

L. J. ODELL.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 437,791. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

- wvawto'c LewJ 013020 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI J. ODELL, OF LAKE GENEVA, \VISCONSIN.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,791, dated October 7, 1890.

Application filed March 15, 1888. Serial No. 267,254- (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI J. ODELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Geneva, in the county of Valworth and State of \Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention has reference to type-writers; and it consists in the improvements hereinafter described and set forth.

The herein -described improvements are more particularly designed for operation in connection with the form of type writer wherein the type bar frame is pivotally mounted and carries a laterally-movable typebar, the position of which is regulated by means of a stylus, the vibrations of the typebar frame serving to actuate the pawl devices for intermittently moving the platencarriage.

I refer more particularly to a pending application, Serial No. 238,388, filed by me May 16,1887, for a more complete understanding of the present improvements.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved typewriter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the position of the parts when the type-bar frame is depressed. Fig. 3 is a front view showing the type-bar frame depressed in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a section on the dotted line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the spacing device. Fig. (3 is a detail sectional View 011 line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the type-bar frame being raised. Fig. 8 is a detail longitudinal section of one end of the platen to show more clearly the fitting of the collar. I

Inasmuch as the improvement relates purely to the inking and spacing and paperguide mechanism, I will only make mention of such parts of the type-writer referred to as Will be necessary to explain the use of the said improvement.

A indicates the base-plate of suitable configuration, and it has the grooved strips a secured to the top thereof, in which moves the platen carriage B. A vertical standard A on said base has connected thereto ahorizontal portion A having two curved arms a a which carry the letter-bar D at their front ends, the said bar D having the registeringrecesses (Z at its front. Two arms a are pivotally secured to the portion A and extend beyond the bar D, at which point they carry the type-bar frame 0, which is grooved to receive and permit the movement therein of the type-bar 0 This latter is provided with an operating-knob having a stylus O to engage with the recesses in the letter-plate. It is intended that the vibration of the carriage will actuate intermediate devices, so as to intermittently feed the platen-carriage and its platen, both of which are arranged to move at right angles to the type-bar frame. The parts above mentioned are the general features of the class of machines to which my improvement is especially applicable.

The improved inking mechanism will now be described. Two ears 1 lare formed integrally with the upper side of the base and are transversely perforated for the passage of a pin 2, which forms the pivot for the perforated ears 3 3, formed on the lower end of a vertical frame 4. This latter consists of two upwardly-extending arms 5 5, which have threaded perforations at their upper ends to receive threaded screws 6 6. On the crossbar 7, forming the base of the frame 4, is an ear 8, which is perforated at its end for the attachment thereto of one end of a link-rod 9, the other end of which is connected with the depending arm 10 of the type-bar frame 0. Spring-arms 11 11 are each secured to one of the screws 6 6 and extend forward parallel, where they hold the inking-roller 12. This latter consists, preferably, of a roller comprising a central body 13, surrounded by a tape or wrapping of textile material saturated with any suitable inking medium. The central portion of the type-bar frame is cut away on its under side, as at a, so as to expose a considerable portion of the under side of the type-bar, the inking-roller extending into said cut-away portion in order to insure its surface properly contacting with the typebar.

In operation as the type-bar frame is depressed so as to bring one of the exposed type-impressions in contact with the platen, the depending arm 10, descending with said frame, brings the connecting-rod 9 to a horizontal position, and thereby moves the frame 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2. This move ment of the frame and the return movement occasioned by the ascent of the type-bar frame causes the frame to move the ink-roller back and forth over a considerable portion of, the exposed part of the type-bar face, so as to properly and thoroughly ink the same. The rigidity of the spring-arms 11 11 may be readily regulated by adjusting the position of the screws 6 6, the said arms being coiled around said screws and having a free end bent to engage an opening formed in the side of the adjacent arm 5. To regulate the rigidity of the spring-arms, turn the screws in ward so as to cause the heads of the screws to compress the coils. This will make the arms rigid. Loosen the screws and the arms will have free spring-action.

' The spring character of the arms 11 11 enables the inking-roller to yield and accommodate itself to the irregular surface presented by the type-bar.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the inking device is not only simple and positive in its operation, but that its automatic inking action is automatically eifected by the vibrations of the type-bar frame.

The platen-carriage Bis fitted between and moves -within the space inclosed by the grooved strips a. The spacing-lever X and detent-lever X are connected together and have a common spring Z. The detent-lever engages the rack-surface m on the platencarriage to move the same in the manner described in my former application referred to.

The platen-carriage is provided at opposite ends with upwardly-extending lugs or short standards, which form bearings for the platen bed or roller M. At the rear end .the lug q is slotted to form a bearing for the reduced end of the platen bed or cylinder. Rising from the platen-carriage at this point is a sheet-metal strip k, which has one end secured to the platencarriage, then passed around the platen bed, roller, or cylinder, so as to partially encircle the platen roller or cylinder, the other end of the metal strip It being formed into a tubular bearing m for the end of the paper-guard rod or wire 17 hereinafter referred to. This metallic strip thus serves to hold the platen bed or roller in the open bearing of the lug q, since the end of rod or wire 17, after passing through bearing m -of the strip is, is rigidly inserted into the lug q. The platen bed or cylinder at the other end is provided with a reduced end a", which rests in a bearing therefor in a short standard or lug b. The projectingportion of said end a" is provided with a fixed ratchetwheel 0 and thumb screw or wheel 14. A collar 15 fits loosely upon said projecting portion, and is internally recessed to embrace the ratchetwheel c, and said collar is provided with an extension 16, forming an operating-handle portion, by which the collar can be conveniently oscillated over the ratchet wheel. The upper face of the collar is cut away to form parallel walls thereof, and said walls are provided with cars 18, perforated for the pivotal connection of a gravitating pawl E, a portion of which rests in the recess of the collar, so that its hook end may fully engage the ratchet-teeth of the wheel a. The other end of said pawl is enlarged to furnish a handle for disengaging the pawl,when necessary. The inner wall of the collar is provided on its underside, below the extension 16, with two lugs e, which are designed to alternately contact with a pin f projecting from the side of the standard b, and designed to limit the oscillations of the collar.

As will be understood, it is desirable that the platen or roller bed revolve with considerable friction, this being necessary in order to hold the paper tightly in position and avoid its accidental shifting.

The ratchet-teeth on the wheel 0 are located at such distance from each other that when the collar 15, with its pawl E, is moved upon the reduced end over the ratchet-wheel its lower lug 6 will contact with the pin f -on the standard. This movement of the collar is sufiicient to cause the pawl to ride over and of movement at the proper point of the movement of the roll.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the device herein described is of simple and efficient construction, and that it will positively secure the desired line-spacing without any nice precaution on the part of the operator. Furthermore, the thumb-wheel 14 secures any intermediate adjustment that may be necessary-that is to say, if the adjustment of the platen bed or roller by the collar, pawl, and ratchet, above described, affords too great a space between the lines, the operator can turn the thumb screw or wheel 14 and adjust the space between the lines to the precise degree. This will be found desirable when writing in single space, as it is termed, or when inter-lining.

A sheet-metal plate P is secured at one of .its edges to the base of the platen-carriage,

and is inclined upwardly and curved around the platen bed or roller, partially encircling the same. This sheet-metal plate forms a paper-guide to direct or guide the paper down around the roller or platen-bed. This sheetmetal paper-guide extends from the center of the platen bed or roller nearly to the ends thereof. The paper-guard is formed with a spring-rod bar 17, which is secured atone end by passing through bearing an into lug q,

while the other end is free to be engaged by a hooked extension 18 of a swin in in 19 the latter passing through bearing-lug b, as

shown. By this arrangement the free portion of the paper will be readily held down out of the way, and can be readily disengaged at all times bysimply releasing the engagement of the hook 18' with the free end of the bar 17.

The sheet-metal strip 7c serves an important function. It guides the corner of the paper down under the spring bar or rod 17 as the paper is being rolled in the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a type-writer, the combination, with the platen bed or roll having a rigidly-fixed ratchet-wheel the teeth of which correspond with the linespacings, a loosely-fitted collar on the bed or roll and embracing and inclosing the ratchet-wheel on each side and peripherally recessed and provided with ears 18, an integral handle-extension for said collar, and a pawl pivoted in. said ears 18 and resting at a portion of its length in the peripheral recess of the collar, so as to positively engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, the other end of the pawl being enlarged to furnish a handle which projects outward in the same direction as the handle-extension of the collar, so as to be in close proximity there to, as set forth.

2. In a type-writer, the combination, with the base and the vibrating type-bar frame, of a frame 4, pivoted to said base, a projection on the lower side of the type-bar frame and connected to said frame 4, and spring-arms connected to said frame it and carrying a roller which is held by said spring-arms in contact at all times with the type-bar frame, as set forth.

3. In a type-writer, the combination, with the base and the type-bar frame, of a frame 4, pivoted on said base and connected to said type-bar frame, spring-arms connected to the frame 4: and carrying an inking-roller and coiled to receive an adj Listing-screw, the latter being adapted to regulate the rigidity of said spring-arms, as set forth.

4." In a type-writer, the combination of the base provided with the ears 1 1, the frame 4, having the ears 3 3, pivoted to the ears 1 1, and provided with upwardly-extending arms 5 5,havin g threaded perforations,as described, screws 6 6, and spring-arms 11 11, coiled 011 the screws and carrying the inking-roller, the frame at, having ear 8, and the link 9, attached to the ear 8 and connected to the vibrating type-bar frame, as set forth.

5. In a type-writer, the platen bed or roll and its supporting-standards, in combination with the rod 17, loosely connected at an end to one of the standards and removably connected at the other end to the other standard, and the paper-guide P, made of sheet metal extending longitudinally under the bed or roll and partially around the same, the plate is, extending over the top of the platen bed or roll at one end, and terminating in a bearing on, which encircles the rod 17 and serves to direct or guide the paper under the rod 17 at the end of the platen or roll, as set forth.

6. In a typewriter, the combination, with the base, and the vibrating type-bar frame, of the vertical frame 4, pivoted to the base at right angles to the movement of the typebar frame, and connected by means, substantially as described, to the type-bar frame, so that when the typebar frame is vibrated the frame 4 is oscillated, and the spring-arms 11, connected to the frame at and arranged horizontally under the type-bar frame and bent laterally to form integral journals, and the ink-roller having its bore engaged by the journals of the spring-arms, the latter serving to hold the ink-roller in contact with the type at all times, as set forth.

7. In a type-writer, the combination of the vertically-vibrating type-bar frame, springactuated as described, with the pivoted inking-frame 4L, carrying the inking devices and arranged vertically, the spacing-lever 00 the arm 10, depending from the type-bar frame and arranged directly over the spacing-lever and adapted to engage the same on the descent of the type-bar frame, and the link 9, connecting the arm 10 with the frame 4, whereby said arm 10 serves as a means of connection between the pivoted inking-frame and the type-bar frame, and also as a means for depressing the spacing-lever, as set forth.

8. In a type-writer, the combination, with the vibrating type-bar frame, spring-actuated as described, of the frame 4, carrying the inking devices, connections between the typebar frame and the frame 4, and the spacinglever 00*, disposed at right angles to the typebar frame and arranged in the path of movement of the same so as to be struck by the type-bar frame, as set forth.-

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI J. ODELL. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. ODELL, JOHN B. SIMMONS. 

